I found during the Wesak Full Moon in April that these Truths can be most effectively integrated when contemplated in solitude and silence or meditated upon in a natural setting. I found them to be a perfect subject for Tuesday’s 10:17 Cosmic Trigger event.
Although this unique event has a duration of only 17 Earth hours beginning at 10:17 am, I have come to believe that one could spend 17 lifetimes on this profound and sacred material and still only scratch the surface of its Spiritual Essence and implications.
Even if you have nothing more planned than Silently Being on Tuesday, I hope these Truths will inspire you to shake off the shackles of earthly attachment and to contemplate the Promise of Spirit Life beyond the Veil of Maya.
May blessings of Peace and Joy in abundance be upon you and your Family. Om Shanti. Peace. Shalom.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS OF GOTAMA THE BUDDHA
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The First Noble Truth with its three aspects is: "There is suffering, dukkha. Dukkha should be understood. Dukkha has been understood."
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The Second Noble Truth with its three aspects is: “There is the origin of suffering, which is attachment to desire. Desire should be let go of. Desire has been let go of.”
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The Third Noble Truth with its three aspects is: “There is the cessation of suffering, of dukkha. The cessation of dukkha should be realised. The cessation of dukkha has been realized.”
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The Fourth Noble Truth, like the first three, has three aspects. The first aspect is: “There is the Eightfold Path, the atthangika magga—the way out of suffering.” It is also called the ariya magga, the Ariyan or Noble Path. The second aspect is: “This path should be developed.” The final insight into arahantship is: “This path has been fully developed.”
THE EIGHT-FOLD PATH
The Eightfold Path is presented in a sequence: beginning with Right (or perfect) Understanding, samma ditthi, it goes to Right (or perfect) Intention or Aspiration, samma sankappa; these first two elements of the path are grouped together as Wisdom (panna).
Moral commitment (sila) flows from panna; this covers Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood—also referred to as perfect speech, perfect action and perfect livelihood, samma vaca, samma kammanta and samma ajiva.
Then we have Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration, samma vayama, samma sati and samma samadhi, which flow naturally from sila. These last three provide emotional balance. They are about the heart—the heart that is liberated from self-view and from selfishness. With Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration, the heart is pure, free from taints and defilements. When the heart is pure, the mind is peaceful. Wisdom (panna), or Right Understanding and Right Aspiration, comes from a pure heart. This takes us back to where we started.
These, then, are the elements of the Eightfold Path, grouped in three sections:
1. Wisdom (panna)
Right Understanding (samma ditthi)
Right Aspiration (samma sankappa)
2. Morality (sila)
Right Speech (samma vaca)
Right Action (samma kammanta)
Right Livelihood (samma ajiva)
3. Concentration (samadhi)
Right Effort (samma vayama)
Right Mindfulness (samma sati)
Right Concentration (samma samadhi)
The fact that I have listed them in order does not mean that they happen in a linear way, in sequence—they arise together. We may talk about the Eightfold Path and say “First you have Right Understanding, then you have Right Aspiration, then....” But actually, presented in this way, it simply teaches us to reflect upon the importance of taking responsibility for what we say and do in our lives.
Although this unique event has a duration of only 17 Earth hours beginning at 10:17 am, I have come to believe that one could spend 17 lifetimes on this profound and sacred material and still only scratch the surface of its Spiritual Essence and implications.
Even if you have nothing more planned than Silently Being on Tuesday, I hope these Truths will inspire you to shake off the shackles of earthly attachment and to contemplate the Promise of Spirit Life beyond the Veil of Maya.
May blessings of Peace and Joy in abundance be upon you and your Family. Om Shanti. Peace. Shalom.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS OF GOTAMA THE BUDDHA
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The First Noble Truth with its three aspects is: "There is suffering, dukkha. Dukkha should be understood. Dukkha has been understood."
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The Second Noble Truth with its three aspects is: “There is the origin of suffering, which is attachment to desire. Desire should be let go of. Desire has been let go of.”
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The Third Noble Truth with its three aspects is: “There is the cessation of suffering, of dukkha. The cessation of dukkha should be realised. The cessation of dukkha has been realized.”
[Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11]
The Fourth Noble Truth, like the first three, has three aspects. The first aspect is: “There is the Eightfold Path, the atthangika magga—the way out of suffering.” It is also called the ariya magga, the Ariyan or Noble Path. The second aspect is: “This path should be developed.” The final insight into arahantship is: “This path has been fully developed.”
THE EIGHT-FOLD PATH
The Eightfold Path is presented in a sequence: beginning with Right (or perfect) Understanding, samma ditthi, it goes to Right (or perfect) Intention or Aspiration, samma sankappa; these first two elements of the path are grouped together as Wisdom (panna).
Moral commitment (sila) flows from panna; this covers Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood—also referred to as perfect speech, perfect action and perfect livelihood, samma vaca, samma kammanta and samma ajiva.
Then we have Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration, samma vayama, samma sati and samma samadhi, which flow naturally from sila. These last three provide emotional balance. They are about the heart—the heart that is liberated from self-view and from selfishness. With Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration, the heart is pure, free from taints and defilements. When the heart is pure, the mind is peaceful. Wisdom (panna), or Right Understanding and Right Aspiration, comes from a pure heart. This takes us back to where we started.
These, then, are the elements of the Eightfold Path, grouped in three sections:
1. Wisdom (panna)
Right Understanding (samma ditthi)
Right Aspiration (samma sankappa)
2. Morality (sila)
Right Speech (samma vaca)
Right Action (samma kammanta)
Right Livelihood (samma ajiva)
3. Concentration (samadhi)
Right Effort (samma vayama)
Right Mindfulness (samma sati)
Right Concentration (samma samadhi)
The fact that I have listed them in order does not mean that they happen in a linear way, in sequence—they arise together. We may talk about the Eightfold Path and say “First you have Right Understanding, then you have Right Aspiration, then....” But actually, presented in this way, it simply teaches us to reflect upon the importance of taking responsibility for what we say and do in our lives.
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